"You can record high-resolution video in the 16:9 format for playback on widescreen TVs. Unlike systems which simply record a vertically stretched picture, the Optura Xi uses the full width of the CCD, retaining image quality and providing a larger horizontal angle of view at the wide end."

This is a really puzzling statement, but if this camera really had a 16:9 chip, I think we would have heard lots of noise about it. There isn't a manual available for download at the Canon site for some reason. There is a brochure, and it doesn't clarify the statement. It more less repeats the statement, but makes no mention of providing a larger horizontal view in 16:9 mode. The fact that Canon says so little about a feature which if it were true would be a huge selling point for this camera, pretty much speaks for itself.

I think you'll make the image worse using an anamorphic adapter because of the way the Xi does 16:9. The Xi CCD crops the sides of the incoming optical image to get 4:3 and un-crops itself to get the full 16:9 image. The Xi only crops the sides - it does not crop the top/bottom.

There is a good diagram showing this, I'll post when I re-find it.

If you use an anamorphic adapter with the Xi, it will take the full optical image and squeeze it into the cropped 4:3 area on the CCD. That same image, using the built-in 16:9, is spread over a larger, un-cropped 16:9 area on the CCD.

In addition, anamorphic adapters can limit your zoom-thru, add vignetting, cause a distortion in your perspective, and steal additional light in comparison to just using the Xi's lens.

I think the reason there is no big sing and dance about the Xi's WS mode is because its not a "native 6:9" chip but a 12:9 chip and the camera doing the anomorphic itself. Because we are dealing with SD WS then its all pushed into a 5:4 "container" (720x576 for my MVX3i) and just "squished" and "unsquished" horizontally on viewing. NO dodgey shortcuts like cropping / rez dropping.

If it were "native 16:9" chipped i think most ppl would expect a 16:9 image all the way thru the system to a chip thats 16 by 9 aspect ratio. But for SD i dont think they'll ever bother with that approach and we may only see "true" 16:9 from HD cameras with "need" a natrive 16:9 chip. :)

Langston Sessoms,

I havnt compared it to a 953 but i'm very impressed by its 16:9 capability. :) I'd like to see/find/have the time, know-how to do a resolution test to see what actual resolution its doing in each mode (12:9/16:9) to compare.

I bought the Xi as soon as it came out for its widescreen mode. I'm not a big fan of anamoprhic adapter limitations or the price. The Xi has an extremely high quality 16:9 mode with no apparent loss in resolution.

My only beef with this cam is with its limited contrast ratio compared to other 3CCD cams under $2000. The Xi (or at least the one I had) struggled with blue skies and trees. No matter what the setting it was always inferior to cams like the Panasonic DV953 or Sony PDX10. I already knew the Xi was not that great indoors (low light) but its performance outside of blowing out the sky was unacceptable. My DV953 and PDX10 (and now GS100) handled this much better and I'm not sure if its 3CCD vs. 1CCD, better optics, or an advantage of superior DSPs. There is one other minor complaint of the low quality mode selector switch and the last minute look of the LCD housing (same as with my past Optura Pi).

These frame grabs are 16:9 but still at 720x480 directly pulled from tape. Obviously the VX2000 16:9 is of lower resolution but the sky is what I'm concerned with as I rarely use the VX2000 for anything other than 4:3.